From 1909 to 1913, Victor Segalen made the first of his three visits to China. Party to perfect his knowledge of Chinese language, he took the opportunity he dreamed of settling in the country in January 1911 by accepting a professorship at the School of Medicine Tiensin. He never returned to France in July 1913.
April 25, 1909, Victor Segalen embarked at Marseilles for China aboard the "Sydney". He leaves his wife in France, Yvonne ("Mavone") and their son Yvon, born in 1906, who will join later. Since 1908, Segalen started learning Chinese, and his examination of student-interpreter of the Navy, received a nomination in China for advanced study in Chinese language. Throughout the voyage, he sent numerous letters Mavone mixing prints, descriptions and tips for his upcoming trip. 
The "Sydney" landed in Hong Kong May 25, at night under "torrents of water." The very next day, his wife Segalen address a long letter in which he mentions his meeting with Mr Jasson, French postmaster at Hankow, which ensures the regularity of the jobs in the country, where he expressed his wonder at this first contact with China:
"Hong Kong is a splendid thing. First View of China because these lofty mountains, elegant lines and Noble, draped in green bush veiled breasts sometimes mid-hills of the shadows of clouds, this is the land of China, despite the English possession. I confess, however, that these owners have fired a splendid party. Check
absurd in the night. Clouds, clouds and rain on the coast. My dinner companion and stop, the young Spaniard in Manila, my driver kindly. But what "scenic!" The word, banal, is best placed in the world. Heights, amphitheaters alleys, nations, shops, green wet masses, signs, colors, sun and clouds in the English ingenuity. Inevitable ascent funicular Peak. But overlooking a sea of mist only. The sampans are
family homes floating. While moving their passenger ship to land, they engaged in the most diverse social occupations, except one that would increase an already overflowing: the father, front, pulls on a rowing scull and women in government the back, and hanging on his own back at her, a baby asleep last movement it does to push the boat. Between the two, man and woman, a whole brood of the diameter of Yvon, which some sleeping, others are rowing, sailing or lead, or eat or ... or fight. These are good people day and night of pretty pirates. They have, until recently lost more than one passenger or more than one boat on which they embarked as passengers, and they gave some filaments twisting the English. Even now, we do not set sail at night in one of these sampans without a Hindu policeman takes the issue: to find the culprits then, in case of damage to the passenger, or even drowning caused enough ... Check
to 4 pm Beauty of the pass of the East. Like a beautiful ripe fruit which is lovingly palp outlines, our walk around slowly but surely the wake of a distant globular China which I'll squeeze the juice so greedily! "
arrived in Beijing on June 12, Segalen is waiting until early July Auguste Gilbert de Voisins, his expedition companion. Both left the capital on August 9 for a big trip in western China. They arrive in Chengdu on December 6 and are welcomed by the Consul General of France, Pierre Bons d'Anty. After going down the Yangtze River, they reached Shanghai January 28, 1910. In early February, and Segalen Neighbors set sail for Japan and visit Nagasaky, Kobe, Osaka, Kyoto and Tokyo. February 27, Return to Hong Kong, Victor Segalen Mavone found there and Yvon.
The "Sydney" landed in Hong Kong May 25, at night under "torrents of water." The very next day, his wife Segalen address a long letter in which he mentions his meeting with Mr Jasson, French postmaster at Hankow, which ensures the regularity of the jobs in the country, where he expressed his wonder at this first contact with China: "Hong Kong is a splendid thing. First View of China because these lofty mountains, elegant lines and Noble, draped in green bush veiled breasts sometimes mid-hills of the shadows of clouds, this is the land of China, despite the English possession. I confess, however, that these owners have fired a splendid party. Check
absurd in the night. Clouds, clouds and rain on the coast. My dinner companion and stop, the young Spaniard in Manila, my driver kindly. But what "scenic!" The word, banal, is best placed in the world. Heights, amphitheaters alleys, nations, shops, green wet masses, signs, colors, sun and clouds in the English ingenuity. Inevitable ascent funicular Peak. But overlooking a sea of mist only. The sampans are
family homes floating. While moving their passenger ship to land, they engaged in the most diverse social occupations, except one that would increase an already overflowing: the father, front, pulls on a rowing scull and women in government the back, and hanging on his own back at her, a baby asleep last movement it does to push the boat. Between the two, man and woman, a whole brood of the diameter of Yvon, which some sleeping, others are rowing, sailing or lead, or eat or ... or fight. These are good people day and night of pretty pirates. They have, until recently lost more than one passenger or more than one boat on which they embarked as passengers, and they gave some filaments twisting the English. Even now, we do not set sail at night in one of these sampans without a Hindu policeman takes the issue: to find the culprits then, in case of damage to the passenger, or even drowning caused enough ... Check
to 4 pm Beauty of the pass of the East. Like a beautiful ripe fruit which is lovingly palp outlines, our walk around slowly but surely the wake of a distant globular China which I'll squeeze the juice so greedily! "
arrived in Beijing on June 12, Segalen is waiting until early July Auguste Gilbert de Voisins, his expedition companion. Both left the capital on August 9 for a big trip in western China. They arrive in Chengdu on December 6 and are welcomed by the Consul General of France, Pierre Bons d'Anty. After going down the Yangtze River, they reached Shanghai January 28, 1910. In early February, and Segalen Neighbors set sail for Japan and visit Nagasaky, Kobe, Osaka, Kyoto and Tokyo. February 27, Return to Hong Kong, Victor Segalen Mavone found there and Yvon. DVR.
Sources: Segalen (Victor), Letters of China. Paris, Plon, 1967; Segalen (Victor), Oeuvres completes, Paris, Robert Laffont, 1995, Victor Segalen, Paris, Les Cahiers de l'Herne, 1998;
Dumasy (Jacques), France and Sichuan, a look centenary Chengdu, Consulate General of France, 2007. Photo Credits: Archives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Paris; http://www.patrimoine.combrit-saintemarine.fr
Dumasy (Jacques), France and Sichuan, a look centenary Chengdu, Consulate General of France, 2007. Photo Credits: Archives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Paris; http://www.patrimoine.combrit-saintemarine.fr
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